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Heather Kelly, IBCLC

Your question: How can you hand express breastmilk? - Juliette G.

The expert answers: Hand expression is when a woman manually "milks" the milk producing
sinuses just behind the nipple.

The best way to hand express milk is
to place your thumb and forefingers on either side of your nipple,
around the border of the areola and to bring your fingers back
towards the chest wall, compressing your fingers together as you
move them downwards (i.e., towards the nipple) again. Visualize a
"rolling" motion, with your fingers and thumb working to maximize
the surface area covered during each expression.

Hand expression is becoming a lost art with the advent of relatively
inexpensive and efficient breastpumps. However, for many women, hand
expression remains a viable or even a preferred option.

I recommend
moms experiment with hand expression to learn what motions work best
for their individual breasts. Watching another woman hand express
can also help you get the hang of the hand motions. Ask a friend who
is nursing, or women at a local breastfeeding support if you can
watch their technique. You might also be able to find some websites
that show pictures or film clips of hand expression.